Musty basement smell, wet too long.

[jcooper]

So yea, had a basement stay damp too long. Fella wouldn't open any windows or set up fans. After being told it wouldn't dry quick without them.

Now he has a musty smell... Ugggggggg. I believe it's mostly the stairs giving off the smell, as he said they were wet a day later.


Would you reclean/get everything wet again or just try some deodorizer?

 

[BIG WOOD]

I'd reclean it

 

[Mark Saiger]

Do they have a dehumidifier running?

Either way, even if not cleaning related, if closed up like that, they will probably have a damp basement smell if not running a dehumidifier non stop until heating season again....

 

[Jimmy L]

carpet sanitizer

 

[Desk Jockey]

I'd re-clean and leave airmovers if you have them.

Depending on the severity apply a deodorant if necessary.

 

[steve_64]

It probably smelled before the flood too.

 

[Desk Jockey]

It flooded? I thought he meant he cleaned it and it took too long to dry.
I'd replace the pad if it has odors. Check the lower drywall for moisture, be sure there is no wet clothing or boxes off gassing odor.

If its just from carpet cleaning you are getting some microbial activity from the moisture and soils in the carpet. Applying a topical deodorizer/sanitizer/disinfectant would knock it out. However chances are this activity is at the base of the carpet, so you would need to spray enough to penetrate it at that level.

I'd re clean it just so you can put it to bed and not get another call. Make sure it gets dried or you will be back.

 

[Mark Saiger]

If flooded... What Chavez said...

Whole new situation... Not just carpet cleaning problem....

 

[steve_64]

My mistake. But it probably smelled already anyway just stronger now.

 

[Rick J]

when dealing with customers, and this situation.(trying to get them to do what need done for drying),
I use an analogy.: I ask if they have ever left clothes in a washing machine , even for just a short time after washing. You know the clothes are clean, heck, maybe even bleached. But it does not take long for them to begin to smell musty. That usually get the light bul to go foo in their head. !!
damp thngs in area of stagnant air.

 

[jcooper]

Lol, thank fellas.

No it didn't flood.

It was musty smelling because I blasted the snot out of it! Not really, used my 360i on some very dirty Berber in a basement. Not enough air flow, no fans(them), stairs wet for a day... Worried about it all weekend, got there... No smell what so ever! They did have one spot wick, 30 seconds & some peroxide gone...

 

[Desk Jockey]

Your clients may not be crazy, ot could have had an odor until it dried. Either way, thats great, problem solved.

 

[jcooper]

Your clients may not be crazy, ot could have had an odor until it dried. Either way, thats great, problem solved.

I'm sure it did smell! Got lucky, really didn't want to get it wet again....

 

[Brian H]

I think I would have applied a disinfectant to the carpet when I returned, just as a precaution. That musty odor may return the next humid day and you may be blamed.

 

[Desk Jockey]

That musty odor may return the next humid day and you may be blamed.

I agree.


In many ways you own that odor. I'd have rinsed it good and dried it fast. I don't like owning it and wondering if & when it will jump up and bite me.

 

[Kellie Hiler]

I think I would have applied a disinfectant to the carpet when I returned, just as a precaution. That musty odor may return the next humid day and you may be blamed.

I agree.....

 

[Mikey P]

On your return did you stick your nose in the pile?

 

[Cleanworks]

I think that is why you as the professional need to dictate the terms of the job. Cleaning an unventilated basement can often lead extended drying and odors. When you advise the customer to open windows and suggest dryers and the customer declines, you should put that in your invoice and and have the customer sign it.

 

[Kellie Hiler]

Exactly.....if they refuse to follow your recommendations you no longer "own" the problem.
I would definitely have them sign off on the refusal and include that any return trips would invoke my minimum charge fees even if it was to apply a topical.

 

[Bruce Humphrey]

Not under any circumstances would I put anything on that carpet or re clean until it was completely dry. How are you supposed to know where or what the problem is if you keep adding to the problem?

 

[Old Coastie]

Once I finished a basement apartment and specified that the family use their box fans to ventilate it until the following morning.

Daughter shut the window and door, practically sealing it hermetically (she needed her privacy I guess). Dad calls me three days later. Yeah, it smelled like sourdough. Not knowing better, I used an HVLP gun to lay down a good coat of Hydrocide.

Then I opened the window and the door to upstairs and made Dad and daughter promise to leave it open until bedtime.
Not a single peep out of them for two days, and so I called. Every trace of smell was gone. I gave them the assurance that if it came back, so would I. Apparently, it didn't. Yay!

 

[steve_64]

Not under any circumstances would I put anything on that carpet or re clean until it was completely dry. How are you supposed to know where or what the problem is if you keep adding to the problem?

When it happens to me I tell en the smell will go away when the carpet is completely dry
I've experienced what Jerry has gone through enough times to know it's usually the case especially with a Berber in the basement. Stuff takes forever to dry without help.

 

[Kellie Hiler]

That's pretty much a given. That's the first thing you do is check for moisture.

 

[Desk Jockey]

My personal opinion is you need to take the time to re-clean/rinse out the bacteria that caused the odor. Letting it dry or spraying a nice smelling deodorant/sanitizer will get you by most of the time.

However all it takes is for one client to do a little research to make you think better about re-cleaning.
You know the kind, the one that wants new carpet because slow drying created a biohazard for their toddler to crawl on.

 

[steve_64]

Then it stays wet to long again...

But if they pushed the issue I'd reclean it to make em happy. Or spray disinfectant that really doesn't help because you would need gallons of it to really be effective.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Buy hardwoods.

 

[Old Coastie]

Buy hardwoods.

Hey, now!

 

[Desk Jockey]

LOL just pushing buttons as Ofer would say.

 

[steve_64]

Buy hardwoods.

My wood is always hard.

 

[steve_64]

Buy hardwoods.

My wood is always hard.